The best Illinois sports betting sites
Illinois sports betting has been live for a few years. Now, the Land of Lincoln has a solid stable of sports betting sites to choose from. Some of the industry’s top brands are in the state, giving Illinois bettors plenty of amazing options to choose from.
Best online sportsbooks in Illinois
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Best overall sportsbook
The Prairie State legalized sports betting in 2019 as part of the Sports Wagering Act. BetRivers accepted the state’s first online bet in 2020. There are now seven online sportsbooks available in the state. Bettors must be 21 or older to place wagers.
Sportsbooks in Illinois
Top 3 sportsbooks in Illinois
After careful research and testing, we’ve whittled our list down to the top 3 best Illinois sports betting sites: FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
FanDuel: Best all-around Illinois sportsbook
FanDuel is Illinois’ best sportsbook for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, navigating FanDuel is easy. The app is optimized for mobile devices and easy on the eyes. Everything you could possibly want—your account, bet slip, current/upcoming games, prompts, even horse racing—is accessible with one tap or click. It’s ultra-clear that FanDuel is made with bettors in mind.
One amazing feature of FanDuel is the sportsbook’s same-game parlay functionality. It’s super easy to build a parlay within a single game. Beyond that, you can combine multiple same-game parlays into much larger parlays.
FanDuel sportsbook also gives Illinois bettors VIP treatment. Chicago teams are displayed front and center on the app’s homepage, so if you want to bet on the White Sox, Cubs, Bears, Bulls, or any other Chicago team, you won’t have to look too hard.
In Illinois, FanDuel has a partnership with Par A Dice Hotel Casino. The property now hosts a retail FanDuel sportsbook as well.
The bottom line is that FanDuel Illinois is the state’s best sportsbook, thanks to its wide variety of features and functionality.
DraftKings: Amazing from top to bottom
Whenever you hear the name FanDuel, DraftKings is likely to be mentioned in the same breath. That’s certainly the case in Illinois, where DraftKings offers online betting via its partnership with Casino Queen.
The first major point in DraftKings’ favor is its Illinois welcome bonus.
DraftKings Illinois also has the best social features of any online sportsbook in the state. You can create a group and have your friends join. Bets you place will show up in the group’s feed, as will any wagers your friends place. It will only show the actual markets they bet on—not the amount of their wager. You can tail your friend’s bets with a few quick taps or clicks. You can also react to their wagers or reply with a message. It’s great for trash talk and chatting about your bets.
BetMGM: A top contender
Our third-ranked sportsbook in Illinois is BetMGM. Like FanDuel, BetMGM is partnered with Par A Dice Hotel Casino. It was a late arrival to the Illinois sports betting scene, but it has quickly become one of the state’s best sportsbooks.
We recommend BetMGM primarily for desktop bettors. Among Illinois sportsbooks, BetMGM has the best desktop layout and interface. Clicking a particular market gives bettors a holistic view of the match-up and features a wide variety of betting options. This is thanks in large part to BetMGM’s recent revamp of its user experience.
Clicking the MLB page, for example, brings up all of the day’s games. The page displays the standard bet types (moneyline, total, spread) and the odds for the first five innings. Selecting a game showcases pre-built parts, total run bets, pitcher moneylines, and winning margin bets. It’s a comprehensive view of the most popular bets all shared at a glance.
BetMGM rounds these advantages out with a strong array of promotions and a great rewards program.
More great Illinois sportsbooks
Our rankings don’t end after the top 3. Illinois sports betting is flush with amazing platforms. Here are a few more we enjoy.
BetRivers: Local flair
BetRivers Sportsbook is run by Rush Street Interactive, a Chicago-based company. In other words, it has roots in Illinois, and that shows in the sportsbook. BetRivers frequently features Illinois teams on its homepage. You can also find promos for Chicago teams like the Bears or the Cubs, depending on which sports are in season.
The one knock we’d level against BetRivers is its app. The mobile experience is clunky and slow compared to some of its bigger competitors. However, as of this writing, BetRivers is working on a new app and sunsetting the old one. The new app promises a single unified experience even if you travel to a different legal state. BetRivers also promises an upgraded app experience. If that redesign pays off, BetRivers will easily be a top sportsbook in Illinois.
BetRivers is partnered with Rivers Casino Des Plaines. The casino also has an in-person sportsbook.
Caesars: Go big or go home
Caesars came to Illinois by way of its William Hill acquisition. The sportsbook quickly rebranded and continued its partnership with the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. Now, Caesars remains a top sports betting choice for Illinois bettors.
Caesars goes big. The brand commits to the bit and calls all its bettors “emperors,” giving them the royal treatment. Nowhere is this more apparent than the welcome bonus. This brings us to one of Caesars’ biggest selling points; the rewards program. It’s simply one of the industry’s best, and you can use your perks at the online Illinois sportsbook or at Caesars properties around the world.
In every other category, Caesars is good. Good promos, good odds, good features, good app. It doesn’t quite reach into “great’ territory in most areas, but it gets the job done for Illinois bettors.
PointsBet: Most unique
If you want something a bit different, look no further than PointsBet Illinois. The company—partnered with Hawthorne Race Course, where it also operates an in-person sportsbook—offers a unique experience from top to bottom.
What makes it unique? First, the welcome bonus gives you up to $1,000 in second-chance bets over the course of ten days, a wild departure from your typical one-and-done sports betting bonus.
It doesn’t stop there. PointsBet also offers PointsBetting, a wager type you can’t find anywhere else. In PointsBetting, the degree to which you are correct or incorrect determines the value of your win or loss. If you make the right call, you could win multiple times your bet. Careful, though. A loss means a multiplied loss. It’s high-risk, high reward.
PointsBet is also known for a deep well of odds boosts and special promos.
Best sportsbook promos in Illinois
We’ve already covered the welcome bonuses for each Illinois sportsbook. Let’s now take a look at the ongoing promotions for existing users. Keep in mind that these offers rotate. Be sure to check back frequently for the latest offers.
FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois
- Dinger Tuesdays: place a $25 “To Hit A Home Run” bet on Tuesday MLB games and get $5 in bonus bets for each home run hit in that game.
- Refer a friend: get $75 for you and each friend you refer.
- Parlay insurance: get your bet back if all but one leg hits.
FanDuel has a great smattering of promos. The referral bonus is particularly good, earning you and any referred friend $75 apiece.
DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois
- 50% MLB bet profit boost on any MLB bet
- MLB no sweat SGPx: bet an MLB same game parlay and get your bet back in bonus credits if you lose
- 100% profit boost on an MLB same-game parlay
- Refer a friend for up to $100 in bonus bets
DraftKings constantly offers amazing promos, including special odds boosts and bet insurance. It’s one of the best Illinois sportsbooks for users who want to take advantage of special offers.
BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois
- Same game parlay insurance: get your bet back if one leg loses
- Refer up to 20 friends for a $50 bonus each time
betMGM’s promotions are relatively few compared to other Illinois sportsbooks. However, the referral bonus allows up to 20 referred friends whereas other sportsbooks usually cap it at 10.
BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois
- Bet match: bet certain live events for a 50% bet match
- Tuesday Home Run Insurance: bet any player to hit a home run, and get your bet back up to $25 if they record a base hit.
- NHL and NBA playoffs bet insurance
- MLB parlay insurance: place a 4+ leg MLB parlay and get a bonus bet if one leg loses
BetRivers has more promos than we’ve listed here. The variety on offer is staggering, making it a sleeper pick if you want great promotions.
Caesars
- Tuesday Dingers: get two 25% profit boost tokens for any “Player To Hit A Home Run” market.”
- Refer a friend and get a $100 bonus bet when they sign up and deposit $50+. Maximum 10 referrals.
Like other Illinois sportsbooks, Caesars has seasonal promos for popular sports plus a referral bonus.
PointsBet Sportsbook Illinois
At the time of writing, PointsBEt didn’t have any promos listed. This is likely because of its impending acquisition by Fanatics. We expect PointsBet (or whatever it rebrands to) will offer bonuses again in the near future.
Best sportsbook apps in Illinois
Our three top Illinois sportsbook apps are FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
FanDuel earns the top spot because it’s smooth and simple. It packs tons of options into a small space and somehow keeps it all incredibly intuitive. You can easily sort sports by league, check major current or upcoming sporting events, and access your account all from the homepage. It’s also fast and responsive.
DraftKings has all the same advantages as FanDuel. The company knows how to craft a seamless sports betting experience. The homepage features all the major leagues and sports. Sportsbook promos grace the top of the screen in a rotating carousel, so you can always see the latest offers. Accessing your bets, account, and rewards takes one quick tap.
BetMGM is our third-place IL sports betting app. Its recent redesign did wonders for the experience. Building a bet is easier than ever, and the search bar works like a dream.
The sign-up process for Illinois sportsbooks
Creating an account for Illinois sports betting sites is relatively simple. If you’ve ever created a social media or online shopping account, the steps will be familiar to you. Here’s a quick guide. Keep in mind that some of the steps may vary slightly depending on your preferred sportsbook.
- Download a sportsbook app from the iOS App Store or Google Play. Alternatively, you can visit the desktop site.
- Select “Login,” “Join,” “Register,” or “Sign Up.”
- Provide the requested details, which typically include:
- First and last name
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Phone number
- Home address
- Password (you will create one)
- Last 4 of SSN
- Government-issued photo ID
- You may be required to verify your email by clicking a link sent to your inbox. Do so if necessary.
- Opt in for a bonus and/or plug in a bonus code when prompted. Do this before making a deposit.
- Fund your account and start betting.
You must be 21 years old or above to start an account with an Illinois sportsbook. Your SSN and ID will be used to confirm your age. You must also be physically located within Illinois. This will be confirmed using your phone’s GPS (if betting on mobile) or a geolocation plugin (if using a desktop device).
How we rank Illinois’ sports betting sites
We look into numerous criteria as we evaluate sports betting sites in Illinois.
| User experience | We test every Illinois sportsbook app to see how easy it is to use. The app should function smoothly and be responsive. FanDuel takes the easy win in this category. |
| Bonuses and promos | The welcome bonus should be great at any Illinois sportsbook. Beyond that, it should offer plenty of odds boosts and additional promotions for users after they sign up. BetRivers has the best portfolio of bonuses and promos in Illinois. |
| Special features | What bells and whistles does the sportsbook have? Are there great features that make betting fun and easy? We consider this for each sportsbook on our list. DraftKings has the best features in Illinois, thanks in large part to its social options like betting groups. |
| Banking: Deposit and withdrawal methods | You should be free to deposit and withdraw using a variety of trustworthy payment methods at Illinois sportsbooks. The more options, the better. DraftKings and FanDuel both have amazing lists of payment options available. |
| Customer support | If you ever run into an issue, you should be able to resolve it quickly. Customer support is of the utmost importance at sportsbooks because your money is at stake. In our time with each sportsbook in Illinois, Caesars was the fastest and most helpful in terms of customer support. |
Illinois sports teams
Here’s a quick look at major IL sports teams:
- Chicago Bulls (NBA), partnered with FanDuel
- Chicago Bears (NFL), partnered with BetRivers
- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), partnered with FanDuel
- Chicago Cubs (MLB), partnered with DraftKings
- Chicago White Sox (MLB), partnered with Caesars
- Chicago Fire FC (MLS), partnered with BetMGM
- Chicago Sky (WNBA)
- Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
- Northwestern Wildcats (NCAA)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (NCAA)
The latest Illinois team to win a league championship was the Chicago Sky, who claimed the WNBA championship in 2021. Prior to that, the most recent championship was the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 curse-breaking World Series win.
In Illinois, you cannot bet on in-state college teams, even if they’re playing somewhere else. This means you can’t place bets on Northwestern or the University of Illinois This may change in the future, as Illinois is working on legislation to reverse this rule. For now, though, you can only bet on out-of-state colleges.
Illinois Sportsbook FAQ
Yes. Online sports betting is completely legal in Illinois. Seven online sportsbooks in IL are currently available to anyone 21 or over and physically located within state lines. Some of the industry’s top brands are live with sports betting in Illinois.
Yes. FanDuel is live in Illinois for online sports betting, horse race betting, and Daily Fantasy Sports. The FanDuel sportsbook app is live in partnership with Par A Dice Casino. FanDuel also has a partnership with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. There’s a FanDuel sportsbook located in the United Center.
Yes. You can bet on horses online in Illinois. FanDuel has a dedicated racing app for horse racing enthusiasts. It’s one of the best online horse race betting apps available in the state.
You can bet on the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Sky (WNBA) at Illinois sportsbooks. Unfortunately, Illinois prohibits betting on in-state college teams, which means you can’t wager on the Fighting Illini or the Northwestern Wildcats (or any other college team). You can only bet on colleges from other states. Any match including an Illinois school will not be available for betting at Illinois sportsbooks.
Illinois first legalized sports betting as part of the Sports Wagering Act in 2019. The following year brought the first online sportsbook, BetRivers, to the state. Other operators joined the fray in the following months and years. Currently, Illinois has seven online sportsbooks.
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